Return to Mexico City is an award-winning documentary about the lives of Olympic athletes Dr Tommie Smith, and John Wesley Carlos, who shot to fame during the 1968 Olympics, when they performed the black power salute upon collection their medals for the 200 meter dash finals. After setting a new world record time of 19.83 seconds, gold medallist Dr. Tommie Smith and bronze medal winner John Wesley Carlos bowed their heads and raised a black-gloved fist toward the sky as the national anthem played.

Smith and Carlos were subsequently suspended from the US team and removed from the Olympic village as Olympics officials felt they had politicised the ceremony. Upon their arrival home, both men received countless death threats, and spent years fighting the prejudice of those who had misconstrued the act as being an anti-American gesture.

Now one of the most enduring pictures in the history of sport, the protest made by Tommie Smith and John Wesley Carlos represented not only the American struggle for racial equality but also the universal struggle for basic human rights.

In this inspirational talk, Olympic gold-medallist and sports icon Dr. Tommie Smith discusses his experiences of the Olympic committee, his relationship with other athletes, his personal beliefs, and his work with young people.

The event was hosted by Kunle Olulode, creative director of Rebop Productions, an events organisation based in London and Barcelona.

Obasi Davis and Jahsiri Asabi-Shakir from Young Gifted and Black also performed at this event.

Related Links:
Tommie Smith
Rebop Productions

Posted on Wed 10 Aug 2011.

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